Rotary wheel ditching machine



y 6, 96 c. DUGAS 2,984,023

ROTARY WHEEL DITCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. C LET 'Ducaas A? TO 2H EY-s y 1961 c. DUGAS 2,984,023

ROTARY WHEEL DITCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. C L. ET I) u A5 AT TO ENEYS y 6, 1 1 c. DUGAS 2,984,023

ROTARY WHEEL DITCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 5lNVENTOR. CLET DUGAS A\' TOIZHEYS U d at s ROTARY WHEEL DITCHING MACHINEClet Dugas, Rte. 2, Box 38, St. Martinville, La.

Filed Nov. 28, 1958, Ser. No. 776,917

9 Claims. (CI. 37-92) ditch dug by the ditch digging wheel, sucharrangement lending itself to highly efiicient operation and highquality performance of the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary wheelditching machine having a spiked drive wheel arranged for travel at adistance exteriorly of the ditch as it is dug and providing optimumtraction for the machine.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a rotary wheelditching machine which is highly maneuverable, one sturdy inconstruction, one simple in structure, and one which is economicallyfeasible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunctionwith the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of theditching machine according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view;

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and on an enlargedscale;

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and on an enlargedscale;

Figure 5 is a view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, in which like figuresindicate like parts throughout the several views, the rotary wheelditching machine according to the present invention comprises ahorizontally disposed frame 10 having a forward end 12 and a rearwardend 14. A pair of ground engaging drive Wheels 16 and 18 are positionedtransversely of the frame 10 adjacent the rearward end 14 and supportthe rearward end of the frame 10. The wheel 16 is provided with a tirehaving a smooth tread while the wheel 18 is provided with a spikedtread, a hub 20, and a plurality of radially projecting sections ofI-beams 22 which constitute the spiked tread, as shown most clearly inFigures 1 and 2.

A steerable wheel 24 (Figures 2 and 5) is arranged forwardly of and isin linear alignment with respect to the drive wheel 16. The wheel 24supports the forward end 12 of the frame 10. t

A carriage 26 is positioned forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to the steerable wheel 24 and has means, embodying a small wheel28 dependingly secured thereto, for travel along a ground surface. Ahorizontally disposed driven shaft 30 is journaled in the carriage 26. Avertically disposed rotatable ditching wheel 32 is mounted upon one endof the shaft 30 forwardly of the carriage 26. Means is providedconnecttent Patented May 16, 1961 ice ing the carriage 26 to the frame10 for movement of the ditching wheel 32 into and out of position forditching a ground surface. Other means is provided for manually shiftingthe carriage between the position in which the ditching wheel 32 is inengagement with the ground surface to the position in which it is out ofengagement with the ground surface.

The connection means of the carriage 26 to the frame 10 consists in apair of arms 34 and 36 (Figure 6) on each side of the carriage 26 andeach pair of arms 34 and 36 being pivotally mounted upon a bolt 38 formovement of the arms 34 and 36 about the bolt 38 as a horizontal axis,the bolt projecting inwardly from each of the side members 40 and 42 ofthe frame 10. The free ends of the arms 34 and 36 are fixedly secured tothe sides of a box frame 44 which includes vertical members 46 and 48,on each side of the box frame 44, and a base member 50 connecting thelower ends of the vertical members 46 and 48 together.

The upper ends of the vertical members 46 and48 are connected byhorizontally disposed top members 52 and 54, seen in end view in Figure5, and on each is a hearing block 56 supporting a rotatable shaft 58therein.

Sprocket wheels 60 and 62 on the shafts 30 and 58 are connected togetherby a drive chain 64 for imparting rotation to the ditching wheel 32 uponrotation of the shaft 58.

A universal joint 66 connects one end of the shaft 58 with another'shaft 68 disposed horizontally and mounted in a bearing block 70carried by the frame 10, as shown in Figure 5. A sprocket wheel 72 onthe end of the shaft 68 remote from the universal joint 66 is connectedby a chain 74 to a drive sprocket wheel 76 (Figures 1 and 3) carried bya clutch element 78 on a shaft 80.

The shaft 80 projects from a transmission 82 on one end of a prime moveror engine 84 carried by the frame 10.

Another transmission 86, mounted on the frame 10, is connected to thedrive shaft 80 by means of its input shaft 88 carrying a sprocket wheel90 thereon, a chain 92 traveling over the sprocket wheel 90 and overanother sprocket wheel 94 mounted upon the shaft 80, as shown in Figure4.

tion adjacent one end projecting forwardly of the frame forward end 12(Figure 1) and carries a sprocket wheel 98 thereon. A chain 100 travelsover the sprocket wheel 98 and over another sprocket wheel 102 mountedupon the main drive shaft 104 of the vehicle. of the present invention.The shaft 104 is supported in a torquetube 106 which terminates 'at thedifferential 108 between the drivewheels 16 and 18.

It will be seen therefore that the engine 84 supplies rotative power toboth the ditching wheel 32 and to the drive wheels 16 and 18. Thetransmissions 82 and 86 enable the operator of the vehicle to obtaindriving speeds in any range of forward or rearward'motion as desired, t

An upright hollow frame 110 is secured to the forward end 12 of theframe 10 and forms a guard for the arms 34 and 36. A pulley 112 isrotatably mounted on the upper end of the frame 110. Another pulley 114is rotatably mounted on the upper end of a hanger member 116 which hasits lower end straddling and pivotally connected to the arms 36. A cable118 has one end fastened to the frame 110 and has a portion intermediateits ends traveling over the pulleys 114 and 112. The other end of thecable 118 is secured to the drum of a hand winch 120 mounted upon ashelf 122 forwardly of a steering wheel 124. p t

The winch 120 constitutes a hand actuable means for The output shaft 96of the transmission 86 has a por- .efleeting the upward and downwardmovements .of the carriage 26 with its ditching wheel 32.

A plurality of blades 126 are carried on the front face of the ditchingwheel 32 anda semicircular scraper 128 is positiontd below the wheel. 32so that its leading edge is adjacent the travel of the blades 126 as thecarriage 26 is moved along a ground surface to be ditched.

A clutch throwout shaft 130 extends transversely of the frame forwardlyof the steering wheel 124 and is operatively connected at one end bylinkage 132 to the clutch mechanism between the transmission 82 and theengine 84. A clutch pedal 129 is. mounted on the shaft 130.

A pair of brake pedals 134 and 135 are loosely mounted on the shaft 130and are operatively connected by flexible cable assemblies 136 and 138respectively to the brakes of the wheels 16 and 18. The pedals 13.4 and135 are positioned forwardly of an operator's seat. 140 which ispositioned in tandem relation withrespect to the steering wheel 124.

.The steering wheel 124 is mounted upon a steering post 142 whichcarries a sprocket wheel 144 at its lower end. Archain 146 connects thesprocket wheel .144 with another sprocket wheel 148 mounted upon avertically disposed stub shaft 150.

Another sprocket wheel 152 on the shaft 150 is connected by a chain 154to a larger sprocket wheel 156 on the upper end of the steering wheelsupport post 158. As shown in Figure 5, the post 158 is journaledin theframe 10 for castering movement of the steerable wheel 24 and isdrivingly connected to the steering wheel 124 by the aforesaid chainsand sprocket wheels.

A pair of shields 160 extend upwardly at an angle from the forward endof the carriage 26 and serve to control the spread of the particles ofearth as thrown by the blades 126 outwardly as the ditch is being dug.The shields protect the driving mechanism for the ditching wheel 32 andcauses the dirt to be thrown on each side of the frame 10 and at adistance from the ditch as it is being dug.

The engine 84 is of conventional construction and includes a radiator162, gas tank 164, and other conventional attachments. Acounterbalancing weight 166 is attached to the rearward end of the frame10 rearwardly of the wheel 16 in order that the frame will be balancedin its movement over the fields and along the ditch as it is being dug.

In operation, the ditching machine of the present invention may betransported over roadways and fields to the location of the ditch to bedug with the carriage 26 in a raised position. Upon lowering of thecarriage 26 to an operating position and forward movement of themachine, the blades 126 will effect the removal of the soil and by theirrapid rotation effect the throwing of the soil at a distance on eitherside of the machine. The smooth tread of the one tire 16 leaves theditch smoothly contoured and well packed. The spiked tread of the otherwheel 18 ensures that the machine of the present invention is providedwith traction necessary to effect the traveling movement along the ditchas it is being dug. The brakes of the wheels 16 and 18 are separate sothat rotation of either wheel may be slowed or stopped as desired, thusaffording the .operator of the machine complete steering control intoand out of ditches and across fields irrespective of the condition ofthesoil in the field.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a.forward end and arearward end, a pair of ground engaging drivewheelspositioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward endsupporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having asmooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, asteerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of saidframe, and

a vertically disposed rotary ditching wheel positioned forwardly of andin linear spaced alignment with respect to said steerable wheel andcarried by said frame, said steerable wheel and said one drive wheelbeing adapted to travel in a ditch being dug and said other drive wheelbeing adapted to travel in the ground surface spaced from the ditchbeing dug.

2. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forwardend and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheelspositioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward endsupporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having asmooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, asteerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of saidframe, a vertically disposed rotary ditching wheel positioned forwardlyof and in linear spaced alignment with respect to said steerable wheel,and means connecting said ditching wheel to said frame for movement intoand out of position for ditching a ground surface, said steerable wheeland said one drive wheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dugand said other drive wheel being adapted to travel in the ground surfacespaced from the ditch being dug.

3. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forwardend and a rearward end, apair of ground engaging drive wheels positionedtransversely of said frame adjacent the rearward end supporting therearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having a smooth tread andthe other of said wheels having a spiked tread, a steerable wheelarranged forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said onedrive wheel and supporting the forward end of said frame, a verticallydisposed rotary ditching wheel positioned forwardly and in linear spacedalignment with respect to said steerable wheel and carried by saidframe, a prime mover on said frame, and means drivingly connecting saidditching wheel to said prime mover, said steerable wheel and said onedrive wheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dug and said otherdrive wheel being adapted to travel in the ground surface spaced fromthe ditch being dug.

4. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forwardend and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheelspositioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward endsupporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having asmooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, asteerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of saidframe, a vertically disposed rotary ditching wheel positioned forwardlyof and in linear spaced alignment with respect to said steerable wheel,means connecting said ditching wheel to said frame for movement into andout of position for ditching a ground surface, a prime mover on saidframe, and means drivingly connecting said ditching wheel to said primemover, said steerable Wheel and said one drive wheel being adapted totravel in a ditch being dug and said other drive wheel being adapted totravel in the ground surface spaced from the ditch being dug.

5. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forwardend and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheelspositioned transversely of said frame adjacentthe rearward endsupporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having asmooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, asteerable wheeliarranged forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of saidframe, a carriage positionedforwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said steerable wheel and carried by said frame and havingmeans for travel along a ground surface, a vertically disposed rotatableditching wheel on said carriage, a prime mover on said frame, and meansdrivingly connecting said ditching wheel to said prime mover, saidsteerable wheel and said one drive wheel being adapted to travel in aditch being dug and said other drive wheel being adapted to travel inthe ground surface spaced from the ditch being dug.

6. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forwardend and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheelspositioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward endsupporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having asmooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, asteerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of saidframe, a carriage positioned forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said steerable wheel and carried by said frame and havingmeans for travel along a ground surface, a horizontally disposed drivenshaft on said carriage, a vertically disposed rotatable ditching wheelon said shaft, a prime mover on said frame, and means drivinglyconnecting said shaft to said prime mover, said steerable wheel and saidone drive wheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dug and saidother drive wheel being adapted to travel in the ground surface spacedfrom the ditch being dug.

7. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forwardend and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheelspositioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward endsupporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having asmooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, asteerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of saidframe, a carriage positioned forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said steerable wheel and having means for travel along aground surface, a vertically disposed rotatable ditching wheel on saidcarriage, means connecting said carriage to said frame for movement ofsaid ditching wheel into and out of position for ditching a groundsurface, and means operatively connected to said carriage for effectingthe movement of the latter, said steerable wheel and said one drivewheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dug and said other drivewheel being adapted to travel in the ground surface spaced from theditch being dug.

8. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forwardend and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheelspositioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward endsupporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having asmooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, asteerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of saidframe, a carriage positioned forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said steerable wheel and having means for travel along aground surface, a vertically disposed rotatable ditching wheel on saidcarriage, means connecting said carriage to said frame for movement ofsaid ditching wheel into and out of position for ditching a groundsurface, means operatively connected to said carriage for effecting themovement of the latter, a prime mover on said frame, and means drivinglyconnecting said ditching wheel to said prime mover, said steerable wheeland said one drive wheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dugand said other drive wheel being adapted to travel in the ground surfacespaced from the ditch being dug.

9. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forwardend and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheelspositioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward endsupporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having asmooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, asteerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of saidframe, a carriage positioned forwardly of and in linear alignment withrespect to said steerable wheel and having means for travel along aground surface, a horizontally disposed driven shaft on said carriage, avertically disposed rotatable ditching wheel on said shaft, meansconnecting said carriage to said frame for movement of said ditchingwheel into and out of position for ditching a ground surface, a primemover on said frame, and means drivingly connecting said shaft to saidprime mover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,029,456 Parmelee June 11, 1912 1,128,246 Hartsough Feb. 9, 19151,208,381 Ruemelin Dec. 12, 1916 1,323,051 Hartsough Nov. 25, 19191,348,003 Hartsough July 27, 1920 1,361,638 Stephenson Dec. 7, 19201,409,772 Pope Mar. 14, 1922 1,456,816 Morton May 29, 1923 1,852,200Camp Apr. 5, 1932 2,490,688 Hill Dec. 6, 1949 2,679,703 Borel June 1,1954

